On Friday, Aug. 10, The Center will host the fourth induction ceremony for the San Diego Community Wall of Honor. We couldn’t be more proud of this year’s honorees, and I’ve been awestruck by all they’ve accomplished and the time in which they achieved it.

Created in 2004 by the Imperial Court de San Diego, Nicole Murray-Ramirez and The Center, the Wall of Honor is housed at The Center, and its inductees are selected through a community-wide nomination process. This project provides us with a permanent exhibit, an ever-growing tribute to those who have given so much to our community. While it is certainly one important way to honor them, the Wall of Honor does much more than that. It also continues their legacy of service and giving by providing those who follow them with an empowering sense of history and pride.

I want to acknowledge this year’s inductees by sharing with you a very brief snapshot of their courage, vision and commitment. You can read more about each of them on The Center’s Web site at www.thecentersd.org.

Lou and Carol Arko

Lou and Carol Arko became early supporters of the GLBT community through their ownership of The Brass Rail and #1 Fifth Ave. The Brass Rail opened in the 1930s and is known as the city’s oldest gay bar. Over the decades, the Arkos have contributed to countless GLBT and HIV/AIDS causes, and have served as civic leaders.

Dr. Al Best

In 1979, Dr. Al Best became the first openly gay candidate to run for San Diego’s City Council. During the race, he lost his job, faced death threats, was completely outspent by the other candidates and still finished fifth in a field of 11. Best became the first openly gay person appointed to the San Diego Equal Opportunity Commission, and was elected president of the Civil Service Commission. He is a co-founder of Stepping Stone, served as president of the Something Special Food Pantry and has been involved on the board of directors of 66 organizations.

Gloria Johnson

Gloria Johnson is a nationally recognized GLBT, feminist and Democratic Party activist. In 1976, Johnson became the first openly GLBT person elected to the San Diego Democratic Committee. She was a delegate to the 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions, and has been on several campaign staffs. Johnson has been a longtime leader in the National Organization for Women, is a past president of the San Diego Democratic Club and, most recently, co-chair of the California Democratic Party LGBT Caucus.

Drs. David McWhirter & Drew Mattison

The late Drs. David McWhirter and Andrew “Drew” Mattison, partners for more than 34 years, became international spokespeople for the GLBT community after the 1984 publication of their landmark study, The Male Couple. They each served as president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and taught at University of California-San Diego.

Bernard (Bernie) Michels

Bernie Michels is one of The Center’s founders. Along with Jess Jessop, he served as the Planning Committee executive director from 1972-1973. Michels was the first openly gay student in the San Diego State University School of Social Work and presented the city’s first GLBT studies course at SDSU in 1974. He was also active in the Metropolitan Community Church and Lambda Archives.

Frederick (Fred) Scholl

Fred Scholl helped build many of San Diego’s most important GLBT institutions. He co-founded The Center, Stepping Stone, and the San Diego Coalition for Human Rights, as well as Clinica ACOSIDA, the first Mexican AIDS clinic. He was the first openly gay president of the local ACLU. He served as a liaison between the GLBT community and the police department and co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Police Liaison Committee, teaching sensitivity training for cadets, and led the Police/Community Relations Advisory Board.

Jim Woodward

After coming out, Jim was separated from the U.S. Navy to inactive duty. He founded the San Diego Veterans Association in 1985 and co-founded the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America. Woodward has been active with AIDS Walk San Diego, the Metropolitan Community Church and PFLAG. Last year, he and his partner of 32 years, Sal Griego, retired to Costa Rica.

Join us for the official induction ceremony on Aug. 10 from 6-8pm. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is requested. To RSVP, please contact Sarafina Scapicchio at 619-692-2077, ext. 247, or at sscapicchio@thecentersd.org.